Birmingham's Pickwick to be Redeveloped

Richfield, Long & Cox, and Peggy Dye

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. October 14, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, AL, January 25, 2007. Denver-based Richfield Hospitality has joined forces with Long and Cox Properties, Inc. and Peggy Dye and Associates to renovate, redevelop and operate a 63-unit historic boutique hotel, the Pickwick Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama. As part of the renovation and redevelopment, the name of the hotel will be changed to The Hotel Highland @ Five Points South. The hotel will be closed during the multi-million dollar renovation project, and is scheduled to reopen upon completion in April, 2007.

"The new ownership of the hotel is making a significant capital commitment to this property. We are very excited to be a part of such an ambitious project, and our team is confident that the emergence of The Hotel Highland @ Five Points South will quickly become a destination of choice as the only upscale boutique hotel in the Five Points South area of downtown Birmingham," states Tom Conran, Richfield's vice president of development.

The Hotel Highland @ Five Points South will be the third incarnation of the eight-story historic brick building that was originally constructed in 1919 as the first medical office building in Birmingham, The Medical Arts Building. In 1984, the office building was gutted, renovated and converted to the Pickwick Hotel by local developer, Dr. Donald Kahn. At that time, the hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The hotel currently features 63 total guestrooms, 28 of which are suites. Under the renovation, all aspects of the property will be completely redesigned with a new, chic atmosphere that will be both luxurious and cutting edge.

Renovation plans include completely modernizing the guestroom bathrooms, which will become the centerpiece of the room renovation. All existing tile and ceramic bathtubs will be replaced with luxurious granite showers and glass surrounds complete with state of the art showerheads; marble, granite, wood and glass will complete the new look. All wall coverings, carpet, furniture, art and lighting, mattresses and box springs, vanities, armoires and drapes will be replaced throughout the guestrooms and suites. Additionally, the suites will be completely modernized with new, single unit appliances. All rooms will feature upgraded LCD TVs.

The hotel's current continental breakfast room will be returned to its original state as a martini bar. A new glass storefront will be installed, opening to the sidewalk and pedestrian traffic. The lobby and sitting area will reflect a more sophisticated and modern feeling for guests to relax in during the day or enjoy a cocktail in the evening. The hotel's breakfast area will return to its original location, near the courtyard of the building. Part of the courtyard will be reclaimed, creating an area for outdoor eating, relaxing and socializing. The lower floor lobby will be the new home of the property's fitness room, complete with all new state of the art equipment.

The Hotel Highland is located in the heart of the Five Points South entertainment and dining district. The Hotel Highland is also convenient to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and within blocks of the University's Medical complexes.